Theresa Smith, Director of Academic Affairs

Theresa joins Webb from Oakwood School in North Hollywood, where among other accomplishments she created the Winter Immersion Program, an interdisciplinary program involving 40 courses, 480 students and more than 90 faculty and staff. Students in the program learned about a diversity of subjects, from the physics of flight to the relationships between ancient and modern China, including a trip to China. Theresa holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of California, San Diego and is the author of The Emerging Female Citizen: Gender and Enlightenment in Spain (UC Press, 2006). As the Director of Academic Affairs she is responsible for the schools’ academic program, educational services and resources.

Peter Bartlett, Director of Student Life

Peter has been at Webb for 5 years and in his new administrative role will oversee all programs related to student life including the residential program, student-teacher advising, counseling, student conduct, the athletic and activities programs, student leadership and student-parent communications. He was previously the Assistant Headmaster at the Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, Dean of Students at Kimball Union Academy, and Director of Admission at South Kent School. Peter holds a Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University and an A.B. from St. Lawrence University. He resides on campus in the Alf House with his wife Colleen and daughter Maizie.   

Helen Lawrence, Dean of Students for Vivian Webb School and
Brett Potash, Dean of Students for Webb School of California

Helen holds an MS degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology from California State University at Los Angeles. She begins her second year at Webb and was previously an Educational Psychologist for K-12 students in the Covina –Valley Unified School District. Brett has been at The Webb Schools for three years; in his eleven years in education, he has also taught at Olney Friends School and, most recently, the American College of Sofia in Bulgaria, one of the most prestigious schools in eastern Europe.   In addition to teaching and serving as Dorm Head, Brett has published numerous articles in educational journals, including "We Live in a Wikiworld. Should our Students?" He holds a MA from the University of Pennsylvania. The Deans coordinate all aspects of students’ daily school life.

Brian Ogden, Dean of Faculty

Brian recently completed his Masters of Arts in Education Leadership at Teachers College of Columbia University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in the Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Brian is beginning his tenth year at Webb where he lives with his wife Nicole, an English teacher, and his daughter Mina. He was previously the dean of students for the boys' school and has fifteen years of experience in boarding schools as a teacher, dorm head, class dean, coach, and advisor. As the Dean of Faculty, Brian will support and evaluate the professional growth of faculty in an effort to achieve the mission and educational goals of The Webb Schools.

Hector Martinez, Director of College Counseling

Hector earned his Master of Arts Degree in Education from The Claremont Graduate University and his bachelor's degree from Pitzer College. This is his 15th year at The Webb Schools, with over 24 years of professional experience in the field of education and college admissions. Prior to his time at Webb he was the college counselor and taught at The Buckley School in Los Angeles. He also served as a senior admissions officer for The Claremont Colleges for 8 years. Hector is an active member of several national professional organizations and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for ACCIS (Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools) and as an executive member of the Guidance and Admissions Council for The College Board. Considered one of America's most respected and knowledgeable college counselors, Hector is frequently featured and quoted in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, Unigo Educational Blogs, and The Wall Street Journal where he was recently selected as one of the top 40 college counselors in the U.S.

Don Lofgren, Director of Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology

Don holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Science from the University of Montana. Don has been at Webb for nearly twenty years where he has led the Alf Museum to national prominence through full accreditation under the demanding standards of the American Association of Museums. Don has authored numerous papers, advanced the museum’s reputation as a repository of significant scientific research, and has overseen the renovation of the Hall of Footprints, and this summer, the Hall of Life.

Leo Marshall, Director of Admission and Financial Aid

Leo has been in independent education for 35  years during which time he has served at day and boarding schools - all-boys, all-girls, and co-educational schools as a  teacher, director of college guidance, head coach for wrestling, cross country, and track; director of admission; vice-president for advancement, assistant headmaster, and President/CEO. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS), the Hawaii Association of Children with Learning Disabilities (HACLD), and is the former  Chairman for the Western Boarding Schools Association (WBSA) and a current  faculty member for the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB) Admission Training Institute.  Currently the Director of Admission and Financial Aid, Leo holds two degrees in education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and completed his advanced studies in education at Seattle University specializing in leadership theory and has a certificate in Leadership from The Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management’s Executive Management program.  Leo is also the 2006 recipient of SSATB’s Everett E. Gourley Award given annually to an educator whose “interest in students and concern for colleagues is an inspiration to those who serve in admission” and the Western Boarding Schools’ Association (WBSA) Hilton Award for outstanding leadership and service.

Janet Peddy, Director of Finance, Planning and Operations

Janet holds a Master of Arts in Management from Saint Mary’s College and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Davis with a dual emphasis in finance and accounting.  Her directed study (i.e. thesis) was in strategic planning.  Janet has been at Webb for 12 years.  Before joining Webb she served for 13 years at Sacramento Country Day School in a number of positions including business manager, director of finance and operations, and assistant head of finance.  As the Director of Finance, Planning and Operations, she directs the schools’ and museum’s financial planning, accounting and human resource practices, investment management, operations, technology, campus master planning and oversees the implementation of capital projects.  Janet has also served for six years on the board of NBOA, as trustee, officer and chaired both the program and governance committees.

Joe Woodward, Director of Institutional Advancement

Joe holds a Master of Fine Arts, English, from Brooklyn College and a Master of Arts, Education, from Claremont Graduate University. He has been at Webb for 12 years and currently leads advancement and marketing/communications and the $40 million dollar Fulfilling Our Promise Campaign. Previous to Webb, he was Director of Development at Brooklyn College and worked in advancement at Pomona College and Claremont Graduate University. Joe is also a published author and columnist. His new book, Alive Inside the Wreck: A Biography of Nathanael West will be published by O/R Books New York in November 2011.